374 LINARIA CANNABINA. 



tail-coverts darker, with the outer edge yellowish, the inner 

 whitish. The wing-coverts are dull brown, edged with lighter. 

 The quills are brow^nish- black, the primaries externally mar- 

 gined with w4iite, but much more narrowly than in the male. 

 The tail-feathers are brownish-black, externally edged wdth 

 light yellow^ish-brown, the outer with greyish- white, the inner 

 webs greyish- white for half their breadth. The lower parts 

 are light yellowish-grey, tinged with red on the neck and breast, 

 and fading into w^hitish on the abdomen ; the throat, breast, 

 and sides streaked with dusky brown ; the lower tail-coverts 

 yellowish-grey, with a blackish central mark. 



Length to end of tail 5i inches ; extent of wings 9i ; bill 

 along the ridge ^^ ; wing from flexure Sy^ ; tail 2 ; tarsus 

 7i twelfths; middle toe j'^^, its claw 8i twelfths. 



Variations. — In adults in the w^inter plumage, the variations 

 are not very remarkable, some being of lighter tints than others, 

 and the hind part of the back in particular being not unfre- 

 quently greyish, or even greyish-white. 



Changes of Plumage. — The changes which the colours un- 

 dergo in consequence of the action of air and light, are very 

 remarkable in the males of this species, insomuch that one 

 might at first have some difficulty in believing that a summer 

 specimen was of the same species with one obtained in the 

 beginning of winter. It will therefore be necessary to describe 

 the bird as it appears in the breeding season, or from the be- 

 ginning of May to the end of summer. 



Male in Summer.- — A specimen shot at Guillon in East 

 Lothian, on the 14th May, was as follows : — Bill dusky brown 

 above, paler and bluish beneath. Iris deep brown. Feet yel- 

 lowish-brown ; claws dusky. Head yellowish-brown, streaked 

 with darker ; sides of the head and neck yellowish-grey ; an 

 indistinct line of greyish-yellow over the eye, and another un- 

 der it. Back deep reddish-brown, streaked with darker ; sca- 

 pulars, smaller coverts, and large secondary coverts of a tint 

 approaching to chestnut, and unspotted. Quills, primary co- 



